Double Fine Sets October Release for Crazy Taxi-Inspired Thank You Bus Driver
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Double Fine Productions has announced an October 14 release date for Thank You Bus Driver, a chaotic PC arcade game that blends reckless driving with passenger management under a new experimental studio label.
Double Fine has officially locked in an October 14 release date for Thank You Bus Driver, a chaotic PC game that blends high-speed arcade driving with passenger management. According to GameRant, the developer describes the title as Crazy Taxi meets Papers, Please, challenging players to race through a small-town route while enforcing rules against unruly commuters. Drivers must manage a dwindling timer by collecting titular thank-you expressions from compliant passengers, while dealing with rulebreakers through slaps or direct ejections from the moving vehicle.
This project marks the first release from Double Fine since the studio left Xbox Game Studios in July 2026, taking full ownership of its intellectual properties after a seven-year partnership with Microsoft. It is also the debut title for Double Fine Action Labs, a new label focused on experimental, small-scale games built on rapid development cycles. Born from a lean internal team in just six weeks, the game leans into the spirit of the studio's traditional Amnesia Fortnight prototyping jams.
Currently, Thank You Bus Driver is slated exclusively for PC storefronts including Steam, GOG, and itch.io, bypassing Microsoft consoles for its initial launch. Between runs, players can spend their collected gratitude on cosmetic bus upgrades and alternate town layouts. For a studio historically known for sprawling adventures, this focused arcade release signals an exciting new direction for independent development.
Tags: Double Fine, PC Gaming, Indie Games, Simulation
Original article: Game Rant